KEVIN LISBIE: I may have scored 12 goals this season... but my wife is more popular than me because she cooks the food!

Kevin Lisbie is the veteran striker who is banging the goals in for Leyton Orient this season. The 35-year-old started his career at Charlton in the Premier League before playing for Colchester and Ipswich as well as seven other clubs on loan. The striker's goals have helped Orient challenge at the top of the League One table and dreaming of promotion in May. In his debut Footballers' Football Column, Lisbie explains why he and strike partner David Mooney are League One's answer to Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. Before you read his column, check out his video below...

We've had a brilliant start to the season but it's not a massive surprise to us. If you look at the way we finished last season, ending up only three points away from the play-offs, we came into the new campaign believing we had a good chance of finishing in the top six.

Of course, we would have never predicted we’d go 12 games unbeaten but we knew we had a strong squad and could achieve something.

The only goal we set ourselves in pre-season was to win our first game against Carlisle. We’ve not won our opening match in a few years so that was important.

Still going strong: Kevin Lisbie has fired Leyton Orient to second in the League One table with 10 goals so far

It was disappointing to miss out on the play-offs last season, even though they hadn’t been on our agenda until the last 10 games or so. It was after a game against Coventry when we realised we couldn’t do it and that was a sickening feeling.

We all said to ourselves there and then that we’d bounce back. I think every club should strive for success and to better themselves. To only finish a few points away made us even more determined to do well this season.

There hasn't been any major changes between last season and this one. The biggest thing for us was to make sure we kept the squad together.

We showed what we’re capable of last season so it was important not to change too much. The manager also added a few new players and that extra depth is helping us compete, especially with the amount of games you play in League One.

We’ve not changed the way we play or people behind the scenes. The group has raised its ambitions and to make the play-offs is now a minimum for us.

The manager has stuck with a settled side this season because of the results and good performances. It's never nice when you're left out but winning games makes everything easier.

When you’re winning week in, week out, players can deal with not playing more easily because of the results on the pitch. If I was out of the team and we went unbeaten for 12 games, winning nine of them, then I’d accept it and get on with my job.

It’s a long season and everyone understands they’ve got a part to play. Players have to wait for their turn but competition at a club is healthy.

I’m in the best goalscoring form of my career at the moment. I’ve got 10 league goals already this season and things are going well for me personally and for the team.

I can’t really put my finger on why the goals are flying in. If I could then I’d probably be a millionaire!

For a striker it’s important to play in front of a settled side, with the same players behind you regularly. I’ve played for this team for two-and-a-half years now and knowing your team is key. I’ve got a good understanding with all of my team-mates now, all the way from the goalkeeper to my strike partner David Mooney.

I feel like I’m wanted at Leyton Orient and that’s a great feeling to have as a striker. I’ve just got to hope it continues.

Looking up: Lisbie is targeting promotion to the Championship with Orient this season

Deadly duo: Lisbie celebrates with strike partner David Mooney after scoring the winner against Port Vale

Iain Dowie described Dave (Mooney) and I as being like Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole after we beat MK Dons. It was nice to hear but really he was just trying to describe the understanding we have on the pitch.

It was an example of two strikers that knew each other well and linked up regularly, just like Dave and I did for my winning goal. We’re not quite on Yorke and Cole's scale but I know what he meant.

I don’t let praise like that go to my head, the main thing is that the partnership is scoring goals. We’ve already got 21 league goals between us so it’s been a great start.

High praise: Pundit Iain Dowie likened Lisbie and Mooney to former United duo Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole

Perfect partners: Yorke (left) and Cole (right) were well known for their intricate link-up play for United

My goal against MK Dons was a really satisfying one as it came after some nice build-up play with Moons. We do it in training all the time so it was brilliant to see it come off in a game.

Dave has been awesome this season. We’re always looking to set each other up and after the game we’re always happy if the other has scored. I'd rather score a goal like that than blast one in from 20 yards.

I almost didn't play against MK Dons after picking up a dead leg against Oldham. I was set to miss the game as the club couldn't afford a £3,000 machine to help me recover.

Luckily Millwall defender Danny Shittu owns one and let me borrow it. Danny is a good friend of mine as we grew up together, so he was more than happy to help. Fortunately it prepared me for the game and I went on to have an impact.

The club doesn’t have huge amounts of money to spend on equipment but that's never really bothered me. Although Danny’s machine helped on this occasion, I’m not fussed about having the latest technology. To me, it’s all about what you do on the field.

Sadly our 12-game unbeaten run came to an end against Coventry. I didn’t play due to an injury and wasn’t there on the night but I know everyone’s disappointment didn’t last for long.

Heads were down for a little while but it was actually good that everyone could finally stop talking about us being unbeaten.

As a squad we found it easy to put the defeat behind us and focus on the next game.

Coventry are one of the better teams in the division so it wasn’t a disgrace to lose away from home. They’ll beat a lot of teams this season so there was no reason to be too concerned about the result. We definitely didn’t feel sorry for ourselves.

Red hot: Mooney (right) celebrates the first of his two goals against Peterborough

Out of my way: Lisbie earned himself a move to Ipswich and played in an east Anglian derby against Norwich

The reason I missed the Coventry game was because of a leg injury I picked up in the win over Tranmere a few days earlier. Ian Goodison, someone I've known for years and played with for Jamaica, flew through me with a high two-footed tackle, gave away a penalty and got a straight red card.

It was one of the most testing times of my career as for whatever he reason he decided to target me. He busted my lip with his arm before the tackle too, which left me with stitches.

Tackles like that risk people’s livelihood. He’s a 40 year old man so you’d think he’d understand why that’s not acceptable. It was very disappointing, especially considering my relationship with him.

I’m not that sort of player but sometimes it creeps into the game. He obviously got carried away but that's no excuse.

Reggae boy: Lisbie played with Ian Goodison for Jamaica but that didn't stop the Tranmere defender busting his lip and injuring his leg in October

Ouch: Lisbie sports a scar just above his lip after being cut in a clash with Ian Goodison at Prenton Park

We're still on target for a really good season. All we wanted was a positive start and we've had that.

Once you get that winning feeling, it’s something you don’t want to let go of. You give everything on the pitch to get that feeling again and again. It’s brilliant to look at the table and see that we’re near the top.

We don’t set targets, we just try and win games and see where it takes us. Winning is a habit. Ask any successful team and they’ll tell you the same thing.

All smiles: Lisbie recently turned 35 but wants to play on for a few more seasons yet

We know we’re not one of the biggest clubs in the league so we approach every game in the same way, whether we’re playing a big team or a smaller one. We think every game is massive.

It was a bit disappointing when we won our first six and some people were saying we hadn’t played anyone of note. Every team in this division is capable of beating everyone else.

I’ve played football for 15 years now and it’s obvious that you can’t be successful without a good team spirit, no matter how many good individuals you’ve got. We’ve grasped that as a squad.

I spoke to a few of the other senior players before our first fixture and we all stressed how important a good team spirit is.

We do a lot of stuff together. We play table tennis and go out for meals, that sort of thing. It’s massively important that we all get on outside of football.

At the top: Lisbie scores a Premier League goal for Charlton against Newcastle at The Valley in 2004

One change from last season is our new team bus for away games. There's plenty of mod-cons on it, like Sky TV, a PlayStation 3 and a mini kitchen.

It’s nice for the younger players who haven't experienced something like it before. I'm a little old to get too excited but it’s good to be comfortable on the way to away games, particularly when it’s a four or five hour journey.

It shouldn’t really affect the way you play on a Saturday but it might help a little, you never know. I like to get a film on and relax when we're travelling. I’ve got kids at home so as soon as I get any time to myself, that’s my time!

New wheels: Orient's team coach from Anderson Travel delivers the squad to away games in style

Travelling in comfort: Lisbie uses the team's coach journeys to get some peace and quiet

Home away from home: The coach has Sky TV and a PlayStation 3 for entertainment

The kitchen at the back of the bus comes in handy for heating up the food my wife makes for me and the rest of the boys for away games. She used to just make me food but about a year-and-a-half ago some of the lads asked if they could swap their sandwiches for what I was eating!

Now she cooks chicken, macaroni and west Indian food which we eat on the coach after training on our way to away games. It helps everyone bond and it’s important that we’re all eating the right food.

My missus has got a bit of fame out of it too, I think she might be bigger than me now!

Warming up: Mrs Lisbie's food is prepared at the back of the coach on long away trips

I turned 35 a few weeks ago but it was a very quiet one. I went for some lunch with my wife and spent time with the kids.

We’re so focused on keeping our good start going that it’s all that matters at the moment. I feel like I’m a young 35-year-old and I’ve got a good few years in me yet.

I’ve been really lucky with injuries on the whole. Last season I had a few problems with my hamstrings but that was mainly down to playing so much. We didn’t have much back-up so I was playing continuously.

Fresh legs: Lisbie started off in Charlton's youth academy, pictured here at 18 years old

Sometimes I’ll have an extra day off to recover but generally I just don't train quite as intensely as the younger players. Some of the lads charge around in training but I’ve learned what’s best for me and how to prepare in the right way for games.

I try and avoid silly runs and save myself for Saturdays. The manager understands that and I don’t take the mickey. As long as I’m producing on the weekends then I’m sure I’ll last a little while longer.

The manager, Russell Slade, has brought in everyone who's at the club, it’s completely his squad. He knows what everyone’s like and it was his choice to sign them.

Destined for greatness: Lisbie think O's manager Slade will go on to manage at a higher level

Instant impact: Slade signed Shaun Batt on a permanent deal in the summer to provide competition for Lisbie

The way he trains us during the week and his words before we go out and play are so important. He leaves us with little messages just before we leave the dressing room, things that stick in your mind when you’re on the pitch. He’s always very positive and that’s vital before you kick-off.

Everyone in football wants to test themselves at the highest level possible and I'm sure the manager is no different. If a Championship club came in for him then I’m sure he’d want to go and I’m sure the chairman wouldn’t stand in his way.

He doesn’t want to leave but it’s only natural for people to want to better themselves. I’m certain he’d do a really good job at a higher level and hopefully that’ll be with us next season.

Sticking together: Slade enjoys a good working relationship with O's chairman Barry Hearn

The chairman Barry Hearn has promised the squad a trip to Las Vegas if we make the play-offs. It’s good fun but it isn’t what’s driving us on this season.

Barry likes to reward people so it’s a nice added incentive. When we’re on the field it means absolutely nothing to us though. After the game you can have a little laugh and joke about it but getting promotion is the only thing we care about.

Character: Orient chairman Barry Hearn has turned the club around after previous financial troubles

I’ve had some great highlights in my career. Scoring goals in the Premier League for Charlton was brilliant, especially getting a hat-trick against Liverpool.

But the best thing I’ve ever done was going on trial at Colchester United after leaving Charlton. I earned myself a three year contract and scored plenty of goals in the Championship.

It was massive for me to prove to myself that I could still do it and deliver when it mattered. If I hadn’t done that then I think I might have drifted out of the game at around 28 or 29 years old.

Hat-trick hero: Lisbie curls home his third goal against Liverpool during a 3-2 win for Charlton in 2003

Key moment: Lisbie says winning a contract at Colchester and scoring goals stopped him quitting football

I showed that I’m not a luxury player and that I'm willing to dig in and work hard. There were some tough times at Colchester but it proved my hunger for the game.

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A lot of players wouldn’t have left the top division and dropped down for a trial at Colchester but I did and it worked out well. In fact, I had the best goalscoring season of my career with 17 goals there. Hopefully I’ll beat that this season.

For now I’m just taking each year as it comes. I can never say I’ll be somewhere forever because things change and Orient might not want me anymore. But if they asked me to sign a three-year contract, believe me, I’d sign it!

I could’ve gone to Sheffield United last year but I didn’t feel like they had a better team than us. I’m being proved right at the moment, too.

I want to play with good players, under a good manager and enjoy my football. I’ve got all of that at Orient.